The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell ... · ing his time in the army during World War II, particu- ... The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell

Reg Reed, whose death was reported on 16th. May, aged 84, was, in recent years, known as the “grand-

father” of the multi-age Hursley band of bell ringers, and attendee of the Winchester & Portsmouth Guild’s mid-month bellringing group. His sense of humour would be displayed when Ruth and I would call this the “Golden Oldies gathering”, and the announcement of his death in “The Daily Echo” humorously states that his family hopes he is now singing Mozart with Mo-zart! During the mid-month gatherings he would dis-play his talent as “raconteur par excellence” with tales

of the Guildford Guild’s equivalent activity, organised by younger brother Harold, of concerts with the occa-sional hitch, and of teaching experiences just after V.E. Day. He never spoke of the horrors experienced dur-ing his time in the army during World War II, particu-larly those heard while on duty at the Nuremberg trials of Nazi criminals. He had been transferred to Intelli-gence in 1945, and was one of many who arrested and interrogated members of the Gestapo and S.S. Highly

The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers

GUILD NEWSSeptember 2003

regarded, he was offered a seven year contract with the Control Commission, which administered occupied Germany, but he declined.Instead he was one of those who applied for emer-gency teacher training, offered to members of the armed forces at the end of the War His teaching tales often led us to exchange memories of our first years of teaching. Discipline was everything then in Gram-mar Schools, and our headmaster would spend the first period of the day, after a long assembly, “doing God’s work”, with three strokes of the cane upon pupils sighted out of their homes after 7.30 p.m. at night, and not at their homework. Reg initially taught in the 1940s at The Deanery, in tougher, down-town Southampton, but later, like his wife Alice, he went on to teach music, first at Perins School, New Alresford, and then, after a year’s musical sabbatical at Trinity College of Music in London, became head of music at Junior Schools, first in Alton and then in Winchester. During my early edu-cation, teachers like Reg were expected to administer punishment directly to the unruly, in their classroom, but this gentle man had many successes with those

Reginald A Reed

In This Issue

30th Anniversary Quarter Peal 5Arthur Davis 15Clatford Clean-up 11Continuing A History Of Winchester Cathedral Bell-ringing 12Devon Challenge 7Editorial 3Guild Annual Dinner 4Guild Officers 16Hampshire Bells CD 15Lymington, St. Thomas 8Monthly Practice Meetings 16Reg Cockle - Ringer For Seventy Years 6Reginald A Reed 1Reg Reed - An Appreciation 4The Outing 15

Page 2 W & P Newsletter September 2003

who had a difficult start in life. Those involved in the Theatre Clubs and the musical performances he initi-ated at his schools were particularly grateful for the opportunity to use their hidden talents. It should have come as no surprise to hear, during the Eulogy at St. Cross, that he was also an active member of The Sa-maritans. Strict discipline was, however, a good prepa-ration for many belfries in those days. If you missed a single dodge you could be tongue-lashed by Charlie Kippin at St. Michael’s or attacked by George Pull-inger’s armless stump at Bishopstoke. Nothing like this would be experienced in Reg’s belfry.Since his retirement from full time teaching Reg had concentrated more upon his musical activities and teaching of classical singing, being well-known throughout Hampshire, and in much demand as a soloist. He sang with Southampton Philharmonic and Eastleigh Operatic Societies, and was a leading mem-ber of St. Cross choir and Winchester Operatic Soci-ety, whose members, on 2nd June, attended his Service of Thanksgiving en masse, increasing numbers present to over 300 and raising the roof with their singing. Pupils from his music lessons went on to win in com-petitions, and four young men formed a well known Barber Shop Quartet, subsequently enthralling us with their rendition of “Steal Away” at the Thanksgiving service. He too regularly participated in Music Com-petitions. Indeed his singing voice was of such a high standard that he was winning awards in competitions up to a year before his death.Many will remember Reg’s long period of service at North Stoneham, when he took over as captain fol-

lowing the death of George Wil-liams on 28th. January 1949. Few will realise that, before this he was a very efficient Guild Peal Recorder, from 3rd. July 1937 up to the time when the military ordered his attendance for war time fighting After W.W.II. he par-ticipated fully in the thriving Southampton District. He be-

came District Ringing Master and Executive Commit-tee Representative. On 25th July 1953 he was elected as the W. & P. Guild Treasurer, being recommended by his predecessor William Linter. Like many from the Winchester area, he bicycled into Southampton on Tuesday nights to attend Charles Kippin’s weekly Surprise Royal practice. Here he incurred the wrath of the great man by encouraging me to also bicycle there. However I did experience for the first time Charles’ and Reg’s immaculate Grandsire Triples.

I was aware that Reg and Harold were the proteges of George Williams, but, until I initiated my interest in Anniversaries by reading through W. & P. Guild Re-ports, I had not realised how important was their con-tribution to ringing in the Guild following its reduc-tion in size after 1927. He was taught to ring at North Stoneham in 1932 and the Reports for the 1930s con-tain the brothers’ names over and over again, with Reg often the new tenor man in many of George Williams’ peals:-7/8/1937 - Tenor to 5040 D.N.C.B.M. at Romsey.12/3/1938 - Tenor to 5088 Bob Major at Gosport, the first time Major had been scored on these difficult bells.17/9/1938 - 8 to 5002 Stedman Cinques on the recast bells at Winchester.3/10/1938 - Tenor to 5056 Bob Major at East Meon, which he conducted (On the old, heavier eight). This peal marked his 20th. birthday on the previous day.6/10/1938 - Tenor to 5040 Bob Royal at North Stone-ham, which he conducted.8/10/1938 - Tenor to 5024 Bob Major at Curdridge, Hampshire’s heaviest eight, which he conducted.26/4/1939 - 9 & 10 with Harold for 5079 Stedman Caters at St. Mary’s, Southampton (On the old, heavier ten)His enthusiasm led to participation in several “first peals on the bells”:-1/12/1937 - The tenor for 5024 Bob Major on the re-cently augmented eight at Bishop’s Waltham.25/4/1938 - The tenor for Grandsire Doubles at Bish-op’s Sutton.11/5/1938 - 3 Minor Methods on the original six at Eling, with Reg on the tenor.8/8/1938 - Bob Minor at Micheldever, before rope guides were installed.15/4/1939 - 5152 Superlative Surprise Major at Gray-shott, on the seventh.His own first peal appears to be at East Tytherley on 30th May 1934, aged 15, when his first attempt at Grandsire Triples was achieved in 2h. 58m. This was conducted by George Williams, as Reg rang the third, next to his predecessor as Guild Treasurer. On 24th. August the following year George called the same peal, two minutes quicker, with Harold ringing the third, on the eve of his 14th birthday. This was at North Stone-ham, with Reg a confident, inside ringer on the fifth.His name appears on peal boards throughout the dio-cese, and also in some belfries that no longer exist, All Saints Dibden (Destroyed 20th June 1940), St. Mau-rice, Winchester (These bells dedicated on 19th. Oc-tober 1957 as the back six at The Ascension, Bitterne Park, Southampton), Holy Rood, Southampton. At the latter, on Wednesday 10th. May 1939, Harold rang the third, Reg the seventh and future wife Alice the tre-ble to the only peal of Double Norwich on the bells, before they came crashing down in the conflagration on 1st December 1940. Reg and Alice were equally fa-mous for arriving at churches on their tandem, though not for their wedding, at Bishopstoke, in 1941. After his safe return from war duty, Reg rang frequently in peals, conducting many. A large number contained

W & P Newsletter September 2003 Page 3

young ringers attempting their first peal e.g. 14th Feb-ruary 1953 he called his favourite Parker’s 12 part, in 2 hours 49 minutes. Ringing their firsts were J. Michael Lakin, who was to become one of our Guild’s brilliant, young conductors, and Beryl R Norris (nee Pittaway) who is now Master of the Guildford Guild. He almost called the same for me in 1954, but Ann Vinter, also a first, fainted after 11⁄2 hours. I can remember Reg joking that he hoped I didn’t have that effect on other female ringers! Young ringers flocked to his Thursday night practice, cycling in from as far away as Winches-ter, to be welcomed and encouraged.He participated in several firsts in the method, e.g. :-22nd November 1947. - First of Treble Bob Maximus for the Guild. Winchester.29th March 1948. - First on the augmented 10 at St. Michael’s, Southampton. (Cambridge Surprise Royal)31st July 1954. - First ever of Winchester Surprise Royal at St. Michael’s, Southampton.25th April 1963. - First of Plain Bob Caters for the Guild on his own bells at North Stoneham. This one is recorded as his 150th for the Guild.To me Reg will be best remembered as the “father” of Southampton University Guild of Change Ringers. He had taken me under his wing in 1953 when I arrived at a bombed and devastated Southampton, for my first year at University. With no “Dove’s Guide”, it was quite difficult for a call-change lad from the country to find churches that contained rings of bells. Eventually discovering North Stoneham, in those days also out in the country, this kindly man explained about change ringing and, with much patience, eventually helped me through a plain course of Grandsire Triples. In October 1954 I was joined by Margaret Chapman (nee Beamish), Ray Finch and John Knight. We agreed to form a new society, but then came up against a big problem. In the 1950s you attended a practice night and sat in the corner until the local captain invited you to participate in one or two rings. You dare not “catch hold” unasked. None of these tower captains was prepared to allow an extra practice night, and cer-tainly not allow a group of teenagers control of their belfry, except one. Had it not been for Reg, with equal encouragement from Alice, S.U.G.C.R. would never have started in October 1954, and the first batch of six learners would not be ringing today.

Derek Jackson.Alice has written :-Alice and Reg’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the many, many friends who sup-ported and comforted Reg, and them, during and after the last days of his life. They will always remember the skilled care and concern in the loving practical help given and the wonderful tributes they received to Reg’s gifts as a singer, teacher, friend and ringer.Nor will they ever forget the comforting words, the magnificent music and the presence of so many family and friends in the Church of St. Cross, at the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of their dearly-loved Reg.God bless you all.

Prior to a Memorial Concert at the St Cross Church on 5 September, a quarter peal of 1264 Plain Bob Major was recorded (most probably the first ever in this 800 year old church) by the following ringers:

At the end the of the concert a plain course of Plain Bob Major on handbells was rung to general applause. As Alice Reed explained in the programme notes, this was the concert Reg had planned in the last months of his life and the wide variety of music sung and played reflected Reg’s wide interest in music, as an accom-plished singer, inspired teacher, and skilled ringer of bells.The following evening, in accordance with his wishes, Alice scattered Reg’s ashes in the water meadows be-hind the church, to the distant sound of the back eight of Winchester Cathedral pealing as a tribute to one of the Guild’s most notable ringers.

1-2 Peter Hill 5-6 Christopher Kippin3-4 Elizabeth Thornton 7-8 Andrew Craddock (Cond)

In the spring of 1956 Reg Reed came to our school to give a talk to one of the societies on the art of

bellringing. At the end he invited anybody who might be interested to come along to St Nicolas, North Stoneham on any Thursday evening to see the ringers in action. Only one pupil took up the offer. After he had been watching proceedings for a while Reg asked whether this young man might like to ‘have a go’. And so it was that I started to learn to ring under Reg’s kind and patient tutelage. In February of the following year he called my first peal, Plain Bob Major. I rang the sec-ond and Reg the treble, I guess so that he could keep a close watch on me. For four of the other ringers it was their first of Plain Bob Major, all of them being mem-bers of the Southampton University Guild. In December 1958 Chris Kippin called a peal of Cam-bridge Major at St Michael’s Southampton. A footnote in my peal book states ‘The ringer of the 4th has now circled the tower’, that was Reg. It was to be the last that I rang with him for nearly 34 years, when I had the great pleasure of ringing Rutland at Bishopstoke for Reg and Alice’s 51st wedding anniversary. It was his 175th peal and, surprisingly, his first in the method. I also rang in his last in November 1997 for the So-ciety of Royal Cumberland Youths, fittingly at North Stoneham.It can be truly said that Reg had a profound influence upon the course of my life, one for which I have al-ways been very grateful.Once again my thanks to all the contributors. There is a good deal of emphasis on the distant past in this edition. Circumstances have dictated that. However, I hope our younger members may find the history of interest to them. Pressure on space has meant that one or two articles have been held over until the next edi-tion. I hope that the authors will be understanding.

Editorial


by David House, replied for the guests. He proposed a Quango, to be known as OFRING, to oversee the performance of Ringers’ Associations and Guilds, with powers to assess and discipline Officers of the

Associations and Guilds. He delighted in imagin-ing the detailed application of the powers of OF-RING, with more illustrations of who might be inspected, and by whom. The Cathedral Refectory welcomed the seventy

members, partners and guests to the traditional high standard of catering.

Philip Carter

“Can he ring without moving his arms?”. Canon Barry Fry, the Master of the Winchester and Portsmouth Guild, was asked by the speakers following the Annual Dinner held on Saturday, 26th April 2003.

David House proposing the toast to the “W & P” recounted some of his early experiences in the Guild before he settled in Brighton. The stories covered all the well-known local ringers at dinner, [and a quite a few not present]. Chris Kippin, whose father had had a mention or two

Guild Annual Dinner

Derek’s obituary is very full and informative on the life of Reg Reed who, with Les Tremeer, was our

oldest ringing member, perhaps I should say resident ringing member with Jessie Kippin still going strong in her nineties.I am only filling in the gaps left by Derek in his report on the life of Reg. I first came into contact when I was elected to the Guild Executive in 1953. My first meet-ing was in March that year in St Michael’s Hall and it was here that I first met Reg, although he was prob-ably at my first Guild Annual Meeting on the Isle of Wight in 1947.Following a meeting in those days they always had open ringing at St Michael’s for an hour before depar-ture home. Being ambitious and with little opportunity for Royal, I requested of Fred Rogers, Guild Secretary, a course of London Royal. He rustled round, found there were enough, and I rang my first course of Lon-don Royal. Oscar Smart and I then left to catch our train back to Andover.Charles Kippin and Reg caught us at the main door, would I ringing in a peal of Cambridge Royal at North Stoneham on May 9, a Guild Officers’ peal. Would I! And so I rang my first peal of Cambridge Royal for

the dedication of the George Williams bookcase in St Mary’s Southampton that day. Reg rang the second. I had made my mark on the Southampton scene, Kent Maximus followed at Christ Church Priory on No-vember 2nd with Reg on the 11th. New Cambridge at Sherfield English February 20th 1954 followed with Reg on the third, and then one of Derek’s omissions Southwell Surprise Royal with Harold in as well. This was my first meeting with Reg’s younger brother; I was to see a lot more of him later when he moved to New-bury.Other peals followed until 1958. I did not meet Reg again until I attended a practice at Hursley in 1992 and he recognised me and made himself known to me.I may have filled up a few gaps in those early days, I rather suspect that Reg may have given up ringing for a period of time and come back to it, certainly in those early days after the war he was an active and influential ringer, did he say after that course of London Royal, there’s your other Guild officer Charles ask him to ring? I rather suspect he did. Thank you Reg for those early opportunities.

Geoff Dodd

Reg Reed - An Appreciation


Tuesday 19 June 1973 is a date that is etched on my brain; it was the date of my first Quarter Peal! I

would imagine that most ringers don’t remember the date of theirs, but I do for many reasons.I was taught to ring by my Uncle Mr David Hughes in November 1972, I had always wanted to be a ringer since I watched the Liss ringers when I was only 5 or 6. By the time I was old enough I was more than ready, taking to it like a “duck to water”. What is surprising is that my older and more famous brother, Martin Hough had up till that point shown no interest in bellringing at all, he became so jealous that I was going out enjoying myself while he was at home doing next to nothing that he wanted to get in on the act. But un-cle refused to teach him to ring until myself and the other two learners were ringing rounds properly.I seem to remember Martin eventu-ally got round to being taught in the January or even February of 1973, by which time I had a good head start. Over the next 3 years Martin and I were serious rivals constantly trying to get one up on each other. It must have driven everyone up the wall having to put up with us. There’s healthy competition between ringers, and there were those “Hough brothers”, con-stantly grabbing the tenors!On the 19 June 1973 a group of Liss and Petersfield ringers went to Binsted to ring for the Induction of the New Vicar, at that time Binsted had no band of its own. Uncle David was often asked by the Church-warden to arrange ringing for such occasions. By this time I was ringing touches of doubles on the treble to a reasonable standard, Martin was only on plain cours-es. After the service some of the band had gone home and there were only 5 good ringers left plus Martin, my cousin Kay, who was at the same stage as Martin, and me.After some discussion they decided to ring a Quarter Peal and I was asked if I wanted to ring the treble. This was the chance I had been waiting for, and at last I was to be of some use. Martin was not happy and he was sent out of the ringing chamber into the church.Binsted,Hants. 19 June 1973, 1260 Grandsire Doubles: Stephen N Hough* 1, Maureen D Tipper 2, Keith Sansom (cond.) 3, David M Hughes 4, Ronald G Tipper 5 Thomas S Bowles 6.Rung for the Induction of the Rev. R.W.D.Dewing. *first QuarterThe ringing chamber is separated from the church by

a glass screen and the treble faces the screen. I had to concentrate as never before with the added distraction of Martin glaring at me, thinking to myself “I’m dead when I get home if we get this Quarter”. Martin con-firmed this to me as we walked down the church path when it was all over, telling me “If you breathe a word of this to mum and dad I’m gonna kill you!” But I did anyway, and I’m still here.This year as June came round it suddenly dawned on me that it was going to be the 30th anniversary, so I

decided to try and get the same band together to com-memorate the occasion. There were a few problems though. Firstly Tom Bowles had recently passed away (see RW page 600) also the 19 June fell on a Thursday this year which just happens to be Binsted’s Practice Night.I contacted the other members of the band, David was OK and up for it, Ron was on holiday that week, Keith had recently undergone a heart bypass operation, he would have liked to ring but was otherwise engaged, and Mo had not rung for about 18 months due to rest-ing a frozen shoulder.It was beginning to look unlikely that it would come off, but it was still worth a try. I got permission from Jack Regan for Binsted bells for Wednesday 25 June, and to my delight in the end I was able to scrape to-gether 4 of the original band including myself, with my wife, Moira, and daughter, Lizzie ringing the other two bells. I was going to ask Martin to come along and glare at me through the glass again, but thought better of it!We rang a very good quarter on Binsted’s excellent bells, probably a better quarter than 30 years ago al-though I can’t be sure. David, Mo and Ron rang the same bells as before and Mo’s shoulder was fine on the

30th Anniversary Quarter Peal

Continued at the foot of Page 6


era man in the Ringing Chamber, but it was successful in that Bishop’s Waltham was treated to some good ringing for the Whit Sunday service, some film was safely recorded of Reg leading off and ringing with the rest of the band, and of the eight bells ringing.

The ringers joined the large congregation for a memo-rable 9.15 Communion Service where the Rector, Andy Davis presented Reg with a folder containing congratulatory messages from the band of Ringers, the congregation and staff at St Peter’s, three former Rectors who wrote of their own special memories of Reg’s service to St Peter’s and the Bishop of Port-smouth who already knew him from the Diocesan 75th anniversary celebrations last October, when Reg

day. Everyone enjoyed the experience very much and it was especially nice for me as I hadn’t rung with Ron & Mo for many years. Thank you everyone!Binsted, Hants. 25 June. 1260 Doubles 6 M/V. Stedman, Rev Canterbury, S Simon, S Martin, Plain Bob, Grandsire: Moira S Hough 1, Maureen D Routh 2, Stephen N Hough (cond) 3, David M Hughes 4, Ronald G Tipper 5, Lizzie J Hough* 6.30th Anniversary of Steve Hough’s first quarter. Also with thanksgiving for the life of Tom Bowles. * first Tenor behindJust in case you are wondering, Martin and I are not competitive these days, I know when I’m beat, but please don’t feel sorry for me. In fact I have done quite well for myself. As I go round the country I introduce myself as “Martin Hough’s brother” and suddenly I’m a hero! Such is the legend.

Steve Hough - Gosport

Many Guild members will know Reg Cockle of Bishop’s Waltham who celebrated 70 years of

ringing on Whit Sunday 8 June. Reg is 86, lives in the house he was born in and still rings regularly, though perhaps not as often as he used to. He previously wound the Mediaeval Church Clock twice a week for 32 years and has been Captain of the Bells at St Peters for 34 years. This seems to be a very healthy position as there have only been 3 Captains in over 100 years. Reg was recruited to ringing aged 16 at a Wednesday afternoon Church Fete in June 1933 and first handled a rope at the following practice night Monday 9 June. He knows the precise date because his mother wrote it down, along with the names of the other lads who started to learn at the same time. Reg has rung at the same Church for all the 70 years, apart from wartime when Reg was in the Royal Engineers. He was a POW for 4 years, mostly in Austria and Church Bells were silenced anyway. There were six bells in 1933, aug-mented to eight in 1937, rehung in 1969 and two bells recast in 1975. The band has varied in numbers and ability but Reg’s commitment, cheerful encouragement and remarkable memory have remained constant. His after practice tales of Tower and Town, War and Work have enthralled several generations, long may this con-tinue.The ringers, clergy and parishioners made Whit Sun-day a day to remember for Reg. It started early with an interesting live interview on Radio Solent before 7.30. Just a few minutes later Reg was driven up to the Church to meet a BBC South film crew who in-terviewed and filmed him. Service ringing at 8.45 was busier than usual with plenty of ringers and the cam-

Reg Cockle - Ringer For Seventy Years

Continued from Page 5

Bishop’s Waltham, Hants. 8 June 20031260 Plain Bob Triples

1. Paula Mundy 5. Geoff Peck2. Paul Littlefair 6. Roland Jackson3. Ken Stubbington 7. Francis Mitchell (Cond)4. Janet Chatfield 8. Carolyn WrightA compliment to Reg Cockle on his 70th Anniver-sary of learning to ring.


was the only person at the anniversary who had been at the inaugural service in 1927. A letter was also re-ceived from Canon Barry Fry, Master of our Guild which granted Reg Life Membership many years ago. But Reg was flabbergasted to find the folder also in-cluded not only a message and signed photograph from the Archbishop of Canterbury, but also a special message from Buckingham Palace on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, who had previously spoken to Reg when he was awarded the Royal Maundy in 1995. The day was rounded off by a very good Quarter Peal of Plain Bob Triples rung in Reg’s honour by a mainly local band, which Reg heard after watching himself on the BBC local news. A peal is being planned for later this year.Reg definitely did have a wonderful day on 8 June, but so did the other ringers and indeed the congregation who all contributed to the day and thoroughly enjoyed this very happy and unusual occasion. The only prob-lem is what to do for his next big anniversary. It will be very difficult to improve on this one.But the actual anniversary is 9 June, which this year again fell on a Monday, which is still practice night at Bishop’s Waltham, so Reg came to the practice as Captain of the Bells exactly 70 years after his first pull on a bell rope and later led the way to The Bunch of Grapes for suitable Ales and Tales.

Francis Mitchell

Devon ChallengeI have been fascinated by the Devon style of call

change ringing for a long time. This takes the form of ringing six bells (less frequently eight) up in peal quite rapidly (the rise), ringing “cartwheel” (no open handstroke leads) under or near the balance, ringing the call changes, usually to one of several set sequenc-es, and then ringing down again (the fall) all without stopping. As can be imagined it is quite fast, particu-larly on six light bells. After handstroke usually there is no time to transfer one’s top hand to the rope end and so it slides from the sally to the rope end, making the ropes very smooth.A high standard of striking is sought and to my mind, over time, more easily achieved than with our way of ringing. Many competitions are organised in the county each year, most on an annual basis, with some ringers taking part in 20 or more.I have been fortunate enough to have had a go at this about a dozen times over the years and had been down to listen to competitions several times. Frank Mor-ton from Cheshire, now a member at Milford, is also fascinated by this style and has rung many times with friends in North Devon.Because of interest being shown from outside Devon

a group in Exeter, the St Petrock’s Ringing Centre, set up a new competition the Devon National Challenge, one or two outside Devon teams entered last year at Drewsteignton.Frank and I decided to try to get a team together to enter this year, on August Bank Holiday Saturday, August 23rd. Chris Blaney, Colin Butler, Dennis Chap-man, Michael Lynds, Frank and I, all C. & S. District members, had several practices at Milford, generally managing 2 peals of the 60 on thirds sequence each time. We also had a visit from four of Frank’s friends and took them on an outing in our area, ringing in their style, giving us first-hand experience with experts.So came the day and we wended our various ways to Plymtree, south east of Cullompton, an 11 cwt ring of 6. In the end 8 Devon teams and four from ‘up coun-try’ lined up for the draw. We had not decided what to call ourselves but we were Hampshire so we did not have to bother. Other out of Devon teams were Dor-set, Shepton Beauchamp in Somerset and Birmingham. With 100 or more people milling about around the church we didn’t find out who the Dorset team were or where they came from! We were drawn ninth behind Egg Buckland (what a lovely name), the favourites. Off to Clyst Hydon a similar weight six within earshot of Plymtree, for a practice. Again Frank’s friends, this time part of the Mortehoe team came and rang after us, commenting encouragingly on our performance. So far, so good. Back to Plymtree for the long wait for our turn, taking the chance to sample the running tea. At last we were on, straight in, no practice! We thought we did reasonably well, certainly not a performance to be ashamed of. The first team started at about 2.30 and, including a short break for the three judges mid-way, the last team finished just after 7pm. In only a few minutes the judges gave their decision, without com-ment. As expected Egg Buckland won with 13 faults, our friends from Mortehoe were second with less than 20 faults. We came 10th with 60 faults. All four out of Devon teams were placed ninth with 58 faults to 12th with 74 faults. Every team got a certificate, in some towers there are dozens, some going back many years, either on the walls or in files of some kind.All in all a great day out and great fun trying. Now to start practice for next year - we’ll show ‘em.

Rex Corke

Want Additional Copies?

A PDF version of this Newsletter with photographs in colour (where possible) will shortly be available for download from the Guild Web Site:-http://www.wp-ringers.org.uk/documents/

Ed.


Lymington, St. ThomasOn 27th December 2001, Rex Corke, tower captain at Lymington, organised a commemorative peal attempt

to mark the first peal on the bells, augmented as an octave in memory of the late Queen Victoria. Unfortu-nately Rex was taken ill before the attempt and the peal was scored nineteen minutes quicker than in 1901, with him listening outside, . Afterwards Rex asked me if I could discover any historical information about the pre-1901 ring of six. Monthly visits to Winchester Record Office helped to produce the following.

Excerpts from Church accounts

It is believed that these six bells were originally hung at Romsey, but there is little documentary evidence for this period of time. The Roman Catholic community, set up in Romsey Abbey in the tenth century, was dissolved in 1539 (Part of the Reformation and just before Henry VIII married wife number 4, Anne of Cleeves). In 1539 the Abbey was sold to the Romsey parishioners for £100, the Deed of Sale still being in the possession of the church authorities. In 1547, following the death of Henry VIII and the coronation of nine year old Edward VI, an injunction was issued “ ..Ringing and knolling of bells utterley forbidden at any time on a Sunday ” This was followed, in 1551 by legislation banning national, burial peals of bells, replacing them with the ringing of a passing bell. Records show that, in 1554, when Romsey townspeople obtained some of the church plate from the Crown, they expressed concern about their bells. “Hitherto, the bells had hung in a tower separate from the church and situate to the north of the church, on a plot of ground east of the great churchyard.” Other records show that there were six bells and the tower was dedicated to St. Lawrence.

These bells would not have been fitted with complete wheels, as with modern peals. A description of such wheels appears first in the second ringing book ever published, “Campanalogia” by Fabian Stedman, in 1677, af-ter they were first fitted to bells at St. Bartholomew by the Exchange, London. From 1550 half wheels had been fitted to enable bells to be chimed louder and heard further afield when announcing curfew, start of gleaning, harvest, opening of the market, summon to moot, warning of fire, summon to vestry meeting etc. Although this was the responsibility of the Deacon or Parish Clerk, they often used strong young men as helpers, initiating the tradition of payment to ringers, and resulting in them competing to ring the longest or the loudest. It is of in-terest that the well known ringer at Romsey, Tom Drew, maker of the magnificent table in the ringing chamber, learned his bell handling by sounding the nightly Curfew, which was maintained up to the start of World War II. For a religious centre such as Romsey Abbey there would be a sequence of chimings, at 3 a.m. for Lauds, 6 a.m. for Prime, 9 a.m. for Tierce, Noon for Sext, 3 p.m. for Nones, 6 p.m. for Vespers and 9 p.m. for Compline.

In 1558, Sir Francis Fleming made an entry in his will. “I give to the Church of Rumsey, towards the hanging of the bells in the tower 20s.” In 1557 Simon Clerke had also left 13s 4d towards the rehanging. Could it be that these were the six bells, removed in 1624 and sold to Lymington after demolishing the old tower ?

In 1624 an entry in Romsey church registers states, “This year were the bells hung up in the tower, a little be-fore Christmas, and in the January following was the old belfry taken down; J. Cooper and William Elderfield, Churchwardens.” The octagonal ‘lantern’ balanced on the tower top was constructed at this time, but the six bells installed were so large that only five of them could be accommodated inside. An additional building was constructed alongside to house the sixth. The current bell frame, constructed of huge pieces of oak, also dates from this time. When the current octave was cast by Thomas Mears, in 1791, a record records that .. “six bells

1670 Cost of church tower.

(To mark the restoration of the monarchy in 1660)£413-19-4

Contribution from parish rates to above

(From the 16th Century, churchwardens were legally able to issue demands for rates on parishioners as and when required. Lymington wardens set rates 20 times in one year)

£64-3-3

Churchwardens legally able to raise money by setting fines :-

“For absenting from church service” one shilling

“For not abiding there till the sermon ended” one shilling

“For profanely cursing or swearing, if under 16” Whipping

“For striking another in churchyard” Excommunication

“For ditto with a weapon” Loss of one ear

1684 Peal of six bells completed.


were purchased by Mr. Mears, bell founder, of Whitechapel, London. The gross weight of the old bells was 81 cwt. 3 qtrs. 21 lbs., and they were valued at £360-10s-6d.”

Romsey parish registers contain an interesting entry for 1638. This notes that the burial of John Annery took place on 11th. June, killed by a fall of the great bell of the tower. On page 60 of “Hampshire Church Bells” by Revd. W. E. Colchester, we read about a bell cast for Romsey by “I. H.” the year before.. These initials were part of the inscription on bells, cast in local churchyards, by the itinerant bellfounder, John Higden. He had been the foreman of Joseph Carter, owner of the bell foundry at Reading. Carter became responsible for the Whitechapel foundry in London from 1606 to 1610, after which “I. H.” became a travelling man. His earliest bell in Hamp-shire, at Corhampton, is dated 1619. Records at Winchester College for 1636 - 37 contain :-“ Pro vehiculo ad vehendum campanam ad Rumsey et retro 18/0

Sol ly Bell-Caster pro metallo novo super infuso 83£ et dimidis, et pro opere eius et pro ly wast, secundum pactam £11-16-6”

My O.L. Latin (1952, Fail !), indicates“For a conveyance for transporting the bell to Romsey, and return 18/0. To the Bell Caster for new metal for pouring above (83£ ???) and through the middle ( of the cope and core ???), and for his work, and for the secondagreement ( contract ???) £11-16-6”

To date, no records of this recasting in 1636 have been found at Romsey.

Excerpt from “The Church in Lymington” by Charles Bostock & Edward Hapgood

Winchester Record Offi ce, shelf 23, book 92, page 21.

1540 Extract from a Pre-Reformation Will :-“I bequethe to the new bell iiij d. Thomas Woddam, Lymington, 1540”

1669 From Churchwardens’ accounts :-“ to Mark Hurst for hanging the bell” 00-2-0

1671 From Churchwardens’ accounts :-“Paid to bell founders at Romsey for casting the bells and brass” £26-12-0

1684 From Churchwardens’ accounts :-“Layd out for takeing down and weighing the bells”

“Mr. Knight, of Reading, the bell founder, for casting the bells”

“Mr Cole and his two sons for hanging the bells”

£1-18-0

£30-10-0

£13-0-0

1767 Chancellor of the Diocese urges repair of the Great Bell, which is split.

1774 Application to the Chancellor for further indulgence with regard to repair of bells.“The Parish has been at great expense this year about the Heating of the Church

and will be at a far greater next year”

1685 From Churchwardens’ accounts :-“To ye ringers on St. George’s Day” 0-3-6

1686 “For Beere for the ringers the thanksgiving day ( Battle of Sedgmoor )

“To the Ringers the day the King’s Matie that now is was proclaimed and for

candles”

( Accession of James II, 6th Feb. 1685, deposed in Feb. 1689 )

00-5-6

00-4-5½

1690 “Given to the Ringers in beere att the ringing for the Victory of his psent Matie, then

Prince of Orange

( William III and the Battle of the Boyne )

00-8-6

1714 “To the Ringers when the King was proclaimed”(George I) 2-7-4

1785 Agreed in Vestry to have six new bells cast. Consequence of a letter from the Vicar General (J. Sturgis) advising repair of the bells.

1787 23rd February. Paid to Mr. Robert Wells, Bellfounder, Albourn.

Original six bells removed:-

1. 5-1-15

2. 6-0-15

3. 6-2-5

4. 7-3-17

5. 9-3-22

6. 13-0-17

£116-1s-4d

Old customs involving the bells at Lymington :-

(1) Tolling of the bells at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sundays lacking a service.

(2) Tolling of a bell on Shrove Tuesday morning. (Known as the Shriving Bell in years past)


Note£1 equalled 20 shillings [ 100 new pence ]

One old shilling ( 1/- ) equalled twelve old pence ( 12 d ) [ 5 new pence ]

£1-1-0 was one guinea (10/6 was half a guinea) [ 52½ new pence ]

One old shilling ( 1/- ) would buy about half a gallon of beer.

One old penny was probably the equivalent of 50p. today.

More excerpts from Church accounts

1685 To ringers in beer when the Bishop came to town. 7/8

1685 To Mark Hurst for hanging the Bell. 2/0

1685 John Ashley for a Bellrope. 1/8

1685 Oyle for the Bells. 6d

1685 Ringers on Gunpowder Treason Day.

(5th. Nov. 1605. Discovery of 36 barrels of gunpowder and Guy Fawkes under the Old Parliament buildings)

2/-

1695 To the ringers when the plot was discovered.

(Assassination plot to kill King William III at Richmond)10/-

1706 To Daniel Elliott for Bell Ropes. 4/-

1708 To money to the Ringers when the news came of the Duke of Marlborough taking

Owdinard.

7/-

1708 To the Ringers in bere when the Bishop came to town. 7/8

This would buy 4

gallons

1708 ditto when we obtained victory over the French. 5/6

1713 Five pints of Oyle for the bells. 5/0

1716 To the Ringers more upon the success at Preston and Scotland over the Rebels at

two several times.

17/0

1717 Beere for Ringers for Victory in Scotland. 11/0

This would buy 5½

gallons

1727 His Majesty’s Coronation, to ye Ringers at Jenck’s and two legs of Mutton.

(Coronation of George II)13/3

1740 For ringing on Admiral Vernon’s destroying the forts and castles at Cathagena. 10/0

1755 Paid to a ringing day upon his Majesty’s arrival from his Germanic Dominion. 6/8

1760 Repairing the Great Bell. 5/6

1774 Surveying the Bells. 2/-

1779 To the ringers on the news of the victory over the French and Spanish Fleets.

(By Admiral Hardy, often associated with Nelson)10/-

1785 Paid Jas Green for Beer when taking down the Bells. 5/10

1785 Saml Shepard carr of Bells to the Quay. 6/-

1785 Paid Capt. Footner of Bells to London. £1-7-6

1785 Paid Mr Wells Bellfounder. £116-1-4

1785 Paid Mr Wells Bellfounder. £8-7-6

1786 Paid for cleaning the Churchyard and clooting the second fl oor in the Belfry. 7/6

1786 Saml Shepard. Two loads of Clotty from Waterford. 3/0

1786 Monday 27th March.

“The History and Art of Change Ringing” by Ernest Morris, page 162. “Union Youths of Newport opened a new ring of 6 (Tenor 13½ cwt), cast by R. Wells, at Lymington, Hants.”

1794 June 12 th To the Ringers on the Glorious Victory over the fl eet of the French

Convention by Lord How on 1 st June.

6/8

1799 Ringers on surrender of Dutch Fleet. 6/8

1801 Ringers at the victory of Copenhagen 5/0

1802 Ringers at proclamation of Peace. 10/6

1802 Mr Wells for recasting two and repairing the handbells. £2-0-8

1821 Ringers attending at Consecration of New Burial Ground. £1-0-0


1920 “Hampshire Church Bells : Their Founders and Inscriptions” by W.E. Colchester, A.K.C., Rector of St. Maurice and St. Lawrence, Winchester. Page 88 :-

i. To the Glory of God. Presented by Fanny Haldane as a thankoffering for a long life of many blesssings 1901. Taylor.

ii. R. Wells of Aldbourne 1788

iii. R. Wells of Aldbourne 1788

Iv. R. Wells of Aldbourne 1788

v. Robert Wells Aldbourn fecit 1786 John Taylor Loughborough

vi. Robert Wells Aldbourn Wilts fecit 1788. Recast 1901

vii. Robert Wells Albourn Wilts Fecit 1786 (coin of George III) John Edwards & John Newell Church Wardens.

viii. This tenor and octave added 1901. Dedicated to the memory of her late good and gracious Majesty Queen Victoria.

1901 Friday 27th December (As recorded in the 1901 Guild Report

THE WINCHESTER DIOCESAN GUILD OF RINGERS

At the Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury (sic) , Lymington, Hampshire

On Friday 27th December 1901

A PEAL OF GRANDSIRE TRIPLES

5040 Different Changes Taking 3 hours and 17 minutes

Weight of Tenor bell 20 cwt. 1qt. 3 lbs.

2001. Thursday 27th December.

Derek Jackson

Details in church belfry :-

Weight Note

Cwt. Qtr. Lbs.

1 4 3 21 E

2 4 3 0 D#

3 5 1 4 C#

4 5 3 8 B

5 9 0 22 A

6 9 0 0 G#

7 11 3 21 F#

8 20 1 3 E

“This tower was built in 1670 and the fi rst ring

of six bells was installed by 1684. These bells

were replaced by a new ring of six in 1786.

In 1901 a treble and tenor bell were added,

necessitating the recasting of the old 4th

bell half a tone fl atter. At the same time the

whole ring was hung in a new steel ‘H’ frame

on plain bearings by Messrs John Taylor &

Co., Loughborough.”

“The clock bell in the cupola was cast in

1688 by Samuel Knight of Reading.”

Isaac George Colborn Treble Eli Waters 5

Edwin Tom Green 2 John J. Bristow 6

Charles Robert Forfitt 3 Charles William Goodenough 7

James George Bennett 4 Tom Belben Tenor

Composed by J. Holt (Ten Part)

Conducted by Charles William Goodenough

First peal on the bells, which have been augmented from six to eight, and rehung by Messrs. Taylor.

Christopher Blaney * Treble David A.H. Bennett 5

Brigit R. Lyne * 2 Dennis A. Chapman 6

Julia D. Wood 3 Derek C. Jackson 7

Charles T. Richard 4 Alan D. Elsmore Tenor

Composed by E TaylorConducted by Dennis A. Chapman

Rung on the 100th anniversary of the first peal on the bells.* First peal.

WINCHESTER AND PORTSMOUTH DIOCESAN GUILD OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS

At the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Lymington, Hampshire

On Thursday 27th December 2001

A PEAL OF GRANDSIRE TRIPLES

5040 Different Changes Taking 2 hours and 58 minutes

Weight of Tenor bell 20 cwt. 1 qt. 3 lbs. in E.

We all know how much dirt can accumulate in a belfry, and whilst the maintenance of the bells

may be undertaken diligently by one steeple keeper, keeping the rest of the belfry clean is quite another matter. With many of the Clatford ringers past the first flush of youth (though far from past their sell-by date!) nimbly nipping up ladders and dragging cleaning equipment across the frame is no longer an option.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, with a belfry gathering more and more grime as the years go by, we can wholeheartedly recommend Milbourne Support Service Group Limited, from Quarley. They recently tackled All Saints’, Upper Clatford for us – having cleaned St. Peter’s, Goodworth Clatford eighteen

months previously. This is not an easy job when you realise heavy, commercial cleaning equipment has to be taken up an almost vertical ladder; at St. Peter’s it also entails climbing down into the pits beneath the bells, and cleaning out the area between the ringing chamber false ceiling and the floor of the belfry above it.

Of course, it’s much cheaper to do it yourself provid-ing you have the manpower amongst your band – but, if not, in our experience Milbourne Support Service Group will first make an inspection and provide you with an estimate, and will then carry out a very thor-ough and efficient job. If you need further informa-tion please call Christine Knights-Whittome, 01264 361579 (evenings).

Clatford Clean-up


During the First World War the Defence of the Realm Act restricted ringing to the hours of daylight, and Andrews records his disappointment that in winter the usual royal observances at 6.00am could not take

place. However there is mention of additional ringing that preceded the special weekly 6.00pm Sunday services that were held in the Cathedral for visiting soldiers posted to training camps around the city. A number of en-tries record with some poignancy the names and aspirations of visitors, for many of whom this would be their last ring before serving their country ‘on Flanders fields’. On 3 June 1916 it was noted that while they met to ring for the King’s birthday at 7.05am the bells remained silent ‘due to the fact that news was just to hand of the heavy losses in the naval battle of Jutland 31 May – 1 June’. Less than three weeks later, on 22 June the bells were rung half-muffled for the men who lost their lives on the Hampshire which struck a German mine off the

Shetlands, concluding with ‘whole pull and stand 65 times’ for Lord Kitchener who was on board.A sense of the important place that ringing had in the lives of band members during that time comes through in the letter for W H (Billy) Crute (see picture left) which he wrote from Mesopotamia in July 1916, where he was serving as an aircraftsman in the Royal Flying Corps. With temperatures of 120oF in the shade, he was desperate for a bottle of Andrews’ mineral water! He signed off - ‘Don’t forget that peal when I come back’. Sadly when he did eventually return in 1918 it was via service in France where he received a head wound which caused creeping paralysis to his legs, and his inevi-

table resignation from the band in 1921, the 125 steps to the belfry prov-ing too much for him. He died in 1924. Charles H Russell, had served as a Sergeant in 1/4 Hampshire Regiment and was captured and imprisoned for two and a half years by the Turks following the ill-fated Dardanelles campaign. Having survived the privations of a Turkish prisoner of war camp, he was awaiting repatriation following the Armistice when struck down by the Asian flu pandemic which went on the devastate Europe. This picture of him was evidently taken during his posting to the Middle East and hangs in the belfry as a permanent reminder of a ringer whose contribution to the Exercise would never be fully realised.With the loss of two of their best ringers, Winchester stood alongside the other 34 towers in the Guild which between them had lost 55 men in the conflict. The importance to Winchester of the entry of the USA into the war in 1917, not least through the presence of large detachments of American soldiers (white and black) at Morn Hill, was emphasised by Andrews’ Belfry Book entry on Thursday 4 July 1918 which recorded that from 12 noon to 1 pm they commemorated Independence Day with Sted-man Triples and a Royal Salute. They also rang before and after special evensong at 5.30pm ending at 6.40pm with a further salute.When, on Monday 11 November, news reached Winchester that the Armistice had been signed at 5am, Andrews assembled the band in the tower for 11am so that when hostilities formally ended the cathedral bells could be rung until noon. They then moved on to Winchester College where the six bells were rung until 1pm. Further ringing took place at the Cathedral and the College in the afternoon before a thanksgiving service at 4pm, An-drews’ noting that they returned to the tower again at 7.30pm, ringing touches of Grandsire Caters and Triples with frequent firing, the bells finally being rung down at 9pm.On 13 November they held their first practice for two years, and on Sunday 29 December the bells were rung half-muffled before a special ‘Commemoration Service’ at 3.30pm, the Belfry Book noting that the ten bells were rung half-muffled with ‘whole pull and stand 51 times corresponding to the number of months the war lasted (4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918)’.

Continuing A History Of Winchester Cathedral Bell-ringing

This is the second instalment of the story of the life and times of Wilfred Andrews, tower captain at Winchester Cathedral from 1899 to his death in 1949.


Analysis of the entries for 1919 identify the wide variety of purposes, religious and secular, for which the ringing of the Cathedral’s bells was carried out. In addition to Sunday service ringing each weeks the following events are noted:-

14 January Miss Yorke’s wedding - only the second listed since 1911.8 February The coming of the judges - Chapter records show that the ringers had

been paid for ringing the bells at the commencement of the thrice yearly assizes since the seventeenth century.Quarterly meeting – 10 visitors

22 February Special commemorative service for members of Guild who had fallen in the war – 49 attended from 16 towers -

6 May King George V’s accession anniversary22 May Knell for ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Gore-Brown24 May Empire Day – ‘All present’26 May Queen Mary’s birthday - Ringing at 6am30 May Ascension Day - Ringing at 6am3 June King’s birthday - Ringing at 6am

Wedding of J W Wilson at 2.45pm (Andrews fi ned for being 5 mins late)8 June Whitsunday - Ringing at 6am. Also J W Elkins 65th birthday. (He was the only

verger who was also a ringer)21 June Annual meeting – Just three visitors22 June Coronation day – Ringing at 6am23 June Prince of Wales’ birthday - Ringing at 6am28 June ‘Peace signed 3.12pm [at Versailles]. Rang at 5pm’ 6 July Thanksgiving for peace – ‘Rang at 10.30am, 2.30 and 6pm’19 July Peace Day celebrations – Ringing at 8.45am, 12 noon and 7pm. Also at

the College at 3pm and 6pm. ‘All present’.13 November Assizes1 December Queen Alexandra’s birthday (mother of King George V) – Rang at 7am18 December Installation of Dean Hutton - ‘All present’.24/25 December Christmas Eve and Day – voluntary band31 December New Years Eve - With new recruits, and help from Rev W E Colchester, on

New Years Eve 1919, the band rang a date touch of Stedman Triples half-muffl ed, composed and conducted by George Noice

* It was the custom to ring the Royal Salute on all Royal birthdays.1

Formality in the belfry remained the order of the day, for when the ringers met on 9 February 1920 to observe ‘the coming of the judges’ and there was no sign of Wilfred Andrews, it was noted by vice-captain W C Lamp-ard that Andrews eventually arrived

‘having received a telegram announcing the death of his father. A vote of sincere sympathy was passed to him, and it was unanimously resolved that no fi ne be imposed on him for being late’.

Then on 13 October, in a tower whose regular diet usually comprised service and practice touches of 500 changes or more of Grandsire and Stedman (and which no less than five members of the band were capable of conducting), a date touch of 1920 Plain Bob Major composed by George Noice was conducted by a visiting sol-dier Lt. J N Mackinnon Jr. of the RASC, who was stationed near Winchester, and since May had been a regular visitor. Clearly his six month sojourn had left a big impression, for Andrews notes that they met for a special practice on Monday 25 October to bid him farewell. The following year was notable for the augmentation to twelve, in memory of the ringers of the Guild who had died in the Great War. In July 1920, Hon. Treasurer Rev W E Colchester had written to the Dean and Chapter confirming that the Guild had raised two-thirds of the cost as promised and seeking formal consent to carry out the augmentation. On 5 October 1921, two bell-hangers from Gillett and Johnson arrived to install the two new trebles in time for the Armistice Day dedication (for an account see Guild News September 2000). There was evidently still a shortfall in the Guild’s contribution for the coat of the bells, and the memorial for on 24 Octo-


ber 1921 General Secretary N C Woods sent a final appeal letter to all Guild towers. It is not hard to imagine the emotional effect this had on churches such as Stratfield Saye which lost five of its ringers to the conflict.ii The first record of a visit from another band appears on 7 August 1922 when 13 ringers from St Peter’s Caversham tried out the augmented peal, and on New Year’s Eve that year, appears the first record of overseas ringing visi-tors, LW and SH Sturgis from Groton, Mass. The Treasurer’s Book entries for 1922 show that in addition to their stipends the cathedral’s ringers were paid four shillings each (20p) for ringing on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Judges (3 times), Easter, Ascension, Whitsunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and birthdays of the King, Queen, Prince of Wales, Queen Alexander, and Coronation Day. For celebrating Princess Mary’s wedding and acclaiming the Three Choirs Festival they received six shillings each (30p). There were six knells rung (five at twelve shillings each and one at one guinea), three muffled rings at £2.12s.6d for the band, and fines levied

during the year totalling fifteen shillings (75p).There were many occasions when ringing (and knells) took place for members of the Cathedral community or for those of national renown. Dennis Froome (pictured left) had been the knell ringer since the 1880s. He died in 1926, aged 83, and this duty was taken over by George Noice (pictured right). Each knell involved ring-ing the tenor in full circle, with each stroke separated by a minute’s interval, the number of blows being commensurate with the de-ceased’s age in years. To ensure that the bell set at every stroke, another ringer had to stand on the frame next to the revolving bell

to steady the wheel over the point of balance – a precarious responsibility! Additionally it was the practice to ring the bells half muffled ‘whole pull and stand’ (ie handstroke and backstroke) once with intervals, for the number of years of age of the departed. Andrews notes with some pride that on 15 August 1921 they rung ’92 whole pull and stand muffled with one drop only’ on the death of Mrs Sumner (aged 92), an achievement that most cathedral ringers would find daunting even on today’s ‘back ten’.It is perhaps at this point that we should endeavour to assess what the standard of ringing was under Andrews’ stewardship. Certainly the involvement of W H George was a major advance in the late 1890’s, as Guild reports of the period testify. With no ten (or even eight) bell towers in reasonable proximity, the three year suspension of ringing between 1906 and 1909 while the Cathedral’s foundations were shored up, would have left its mark. The meticulous records from 1911of Sunday and practice touches achieved, give some indication of the atten-tion the tower captain paid to improving standards, not least his ruling that non-attendance at the Wednesday practice precluded a ringer from taking part on the following Sunday, a rule that he maintained throughout his tenure. Reference to Andrews’ correspondence confirms more recent oral testimony that he was firm in main-taining adherence to the Belfry Rules, but there is ample evidence that he was fair, and even compassionate (his response to Billy Crute’s resignation in 1921 being a case in point).In June 1908, even though they were denied ringing in the Cathedral tower he sent Dean Furneaux his annual list of stipendiary members for approval. In a revealing exchange of correspondence in May 1911 with Arthur King (a former secretary of the Middlesex County Association), the elderly writer thanks him letting him ring tenor behind in a touch or two, but gently chides the band for being ‘a trifle slow in dodging’, although he later commiserates with Andrews over the difficulty in attempting peals due to ‘the widows at the [Morley] College [who] are no friends of ringing..’. A retired civil servant, Mr King, who described himself as an elderly gentle-man of 6ft 2in ‘who looks as though he might be 101’, was being installed by the Bishop as a Lay Reader and had afterwards repaired to Wolvesey Palace where ‘…I drank some of your delightful mineral water…’. When he retired in 1919 Dean Furneaux wrote glowingly of the ‘cordial relationship over 16 years between deanery and bell-ringers’.

Colin Cook

i ‘Royal Salutes’ involve all twelve bells being sounded simultaneously for twenty one blows with ‘Queens’ intervening, repeated twice, the noise being akin to that of the Royal Artillery salutes that we still see enacted at the Tower of London and in Hyde Park today.

ii Stratfi eld Saye St Mary is listed in the Guild report under Basingstoke District but eighty-fi ve years later is described as ‘unringable’.

To Be Continued….


This quarter was rung in memory of W A C (Arthur) Davis, after his funeral on Thursday

20th March. The band included the current and two previous tower captains, and all the ringers had known Arthur and rung with him. Arthur had been a ringer at Curdridge for nearly seventy years, having spent all his life, apart from war service, in the area. Arthur was a Life Member of the Guild. I am not aware of his having rung any peals, although he did ring our 25cwt tenor to quarters. He wound the church clock for many years until electrification. He could be relied upon for Sunday ringing and weddings until illness, the tower steps, and his devoted care for his wife May in her final years, meant that he could no longer continue. We were pleased to ring quarters to mark both their Golden and Diamond wedding anniversaries. He left four sons and ten grand- or great-grand children. The above photograph, taken at the presentation to him of a tankard in October 1983 for over fifty years ringing, hangs in the tower.

Robin Milford

Arthur Davis

Curdridge, Hants, Sunday 23rd March 20031260 Plain Bob Triples

1. Betty Daysh 2. Carolyn Wright3. Terry Hargreaves 4. Andrew Case5. Francis Mitchell 6. Robin Milford7. David Goss (C) 8. Anthony Manship

With great anticipation I climbed into the coach.I had everything I needed, plus a positive approach

To going on an outing with a crowd of friendly facesAnd I’d practised all my call-changes and plain hunt (counting places).I was ready!

The traffic was a problem: we arrived a little late,And the crowd of eager ringers poured inside the ancient gate.

Then, up the spiral stairs we climbed, the bells were raised and steady.“ A band for rounds”, and suddenly I’m anything but ready.

A rope is put into my hands, a smile, a friendly nudge.I feel I’d like to run away, but sadly I can’t budge.

“Look to” is called “the treble’s gone” - I’d like to go as well!There’s no escape: I’ve got to stay and ring this lovely bell.(They said it was lovely anyway, the best in the tower.)

The pull off, not a huge success, is harder than I needed.I knock the stay, the bell comes down , despite the fact I pleaded,

And suddenly I’m ringing first instead of ringing second.This whole experience has turned out harder than I reckoned.“It’s all a matter of minor adjustments, ounces not pounds”

I’m not the only ringer having trouble I can see,But every time the bells go crunch I feel all eyes on me.

I pull too soon, I pull too late, I break into a sweat.I know my self-esteem has got as low as it can get.I feel bad.

At last a voice yells “stand”, and I manage to do that.There’s a friendly voice behind me, my back gets a little pat.

“Well done” he says “not bad at all, I guess it’s your first visit.They told you it’s an easy bell, but it isn’t really, is it?”I feel better.

We rang at seven towers in all, each had its different story.At some I crawled away disgraced, and some I left in glory.

But, over all I’d spent the day with thirty new-found friends.Next time I share their day of fun I’ll try to make amends.(for all the awful mistakes)

JC

The Outing

Hampshire Bells CDRecorded over a period of 6 years, the CD includes some of the

best bells in the county. There are also recordings of 4 sets of bells that will never be

heard live again due to subsequent removal or re-tuning.The CD contains over 70 minutes of recordings of change-ring-

ing from 15 locations within the County:-Alton - Andover - Basingstoke All Saints - Bentley

Bishopstoke - Brown Candover - Curdridge - East MeonHillbrow Campanile - Hurstbourne Priors - Lymington

Nether Wallop - Southampton St. MichaelUpton Grey - Winchester Cathedral

Copies are available direct from me and from kind people who have volunteered to distribute them at District Meetings etc.

The cover price for each CD is just £10. What excellent value! Add on £2 if I have to post it.

Cheques should be made payable to:- ROY LE MARECHAL (HAMPSHIRE BELLS CD)

All profits from the sale of the CDs will go towards the W&P bell restoration fund.

Roy Le Marechal, 9 Buckland Close, Eastleigh, Hants., SO50 4RD Tel: 023 8061 5559


Guild News is published approximately twice a year. Its aim is to improve communication between ringers in all parts of our widespread Guild and to communicate the fun of ringing generally. It is distributed free via District Secretaries to all towers in the Guild. Additional

copies are available from the editor for £1.

Editor:David Forder, 4 Cranberry Close, Marchwood, Southampton, SO40 4YT. Tel. 023 8087 2399

Email [email protected]

Please send material for publication to the editor. Most articles will cover recent ringing and social activities in the Guild which might be of general appeal to all ringers, accompanying photographs are most welcome and will be returned. The editor may cut some

contributions and add explanations to others. Material for publication in the next issue of Guild News should reach the editor by 1st March 2004

Guild Web Site www.wp-ringers.org.uk

Guild OfficersGuild Master - Barry Fry

Hon. General Secretary - Bob Cater Hon. Treasurer - Michael BubbHon. Peal Recorder - Ceri Dodd Hon. Librarian and Archivist - Jack WaltersHon. Report Editor - Anthony P Smith Minutes Secretary - Francis Mitchell

BRF Trustees - Mark Esbester Portsmouth Diocese, Martin Waldron Winchester DioceseCentral Council Representatives - Michael Church, Andrew Craddock, Anthony P Smith,

Phil Watts and Mike WinterbourneIndependent Examiner - Peter Clarke

Monthly Practice MeetingsAlton and Petersfield

There are special practices on the first Saturday of each month, please contact the District Secretary for location. Please also check with either Roger Barber (01730) 827474 or Terry Collins (023) 9259 1334

to confirm the A&P practices listed.Basingstoke

There will normally be a district practice in the months when there is no other district event - contact the Dis-trict Secretary, Ben Constant (0118 9816016).

Christchurch and Southampton1st Wednesday, Surprise Major at Ringwood

2nd Wednesday, Call Changes to Doubles at Lymington2nd Friday, Surprise Royal at St. Michael’s, Southampton3rd Tuesday, Major & Triples beyond Grandsire at Eling

3rd Wednesday, advanced Minor at Sopley

Portsmouth Cathedral - photograph Mark Esbester

Documents

The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell ... · ing his time in the army during World War II, particu- ... The Winchester & Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell